PureInsight | April 19, 2004
[PureInsight.org] In the Question and Answer section of the 2003 Atlanta Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference, a fellow practitioner asked Teacher the following question:
Question: Recently, many students who have shouldered a lot of work have felt very tired. Their energy level and state aren't as good as before. How do they break through it?Teacher: This has to be addressed from two angles. First, the students have been working hard, truly hard, and they've volunteered to shoulder a lot. So perhaps we could find more people to help out, or think of a way to solve the problem. That's one point. Another is, a lot of our Dafa disciples are indeed quite tired, but on the other hand, they haven't taken Fa study and cultivation seriously. They've done lots and lots of things, but they haven't cultivated themselves, and so they'll feel fatigue, feel tired, and feel that it's hard. Actually, I've always told you that doing cultivation doesn't compromise your Dafa work, for sure. That's because doing the exercises is the most effective way to get rid of fatigue, it's the best way to quickly make your body recover.
(From "Teaching the Fa at the 2003 Atlanta Fa Conference")
Teacher's answer gave me a new understanding of a frequently used everyday word: "potential." I'd like to share my understanding here.
The word, "potential," usually means a possible natural ability that one can achieve or develop. When people say someone has great potential, they mean that he/she is most likely successful if he develops this natural ability. This is a most common understanding of the word "potential."
I think the "potential" of a Dafa practitioner during the Fa-rectification period refers to instinctual abilities granted by Master. The Fa bestowed upon us all our great abilities so that we are able to save sentient beings during this special historic period.
Teacher said:
You say that you have such great abilities and so on and so forth, but that was all bestowed upon you by the Fa! Actually, it wouldn't work if you failed to attain that level of abilities. Fa-rectification required your wisdom to reach that point, so you definitely shouldn't think that you're so capable. Some practitioners want me to check out their abilities and skills. But actually, what I think is, all of that was given by me, so there's no need to look.
(From "Explaining the Fa During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference")
There are so many lives that have been deceived by the Chinese communist government's fabrications. They have not yet positioned themselves correctly in terms of their attitude towards Dafa. If we do not utilize our abilities granted by Master, or our full potentials to clarify the truth and save these people, we would, in effect, watch them while they are in mortal danger, without lifting a finger to save them. Besides, we would also be irresponsible with respect to our cultivation practice because we would miss many precious cultivation opportunities. Also, countless beings that had at one time placed infinite hope in us might lose their opportunity for salvation and might be weeded out.
Teacher said:
Even though some beings have taken part in the persecution, and a lot of beings have been indifferent, and a lot of beings haven't been supportive even though they have the ability to do so, the great majority of people, the great majority of all the beings, are sympathetic and supportive, which means they've shown their positive side.
(From "Teaching the Fa at the 2003 Washington DC Fa Conference")
To understand that, as Dafa practitioners during the Fa-rectification period, we are showing our positive side in the process of saving sentient beings and assimilating ourselves to Dafa. On the other hand, we still have residual elements from the old cosmos in us before we reach Consummation. If we are reluctant to utilize all of our abilities granted by Master for the Fa-rectification work, those under-utilized capabilities will not have the opportunity to show "their positive side," and they will become what Teacher has described: "a lot of beings haven't been supportive even though they have the ability to do so." [It may be our residual elements from the old cosmos that are hampering our underutilized abilities from "showing their positive side."]
While we are fully aware of our mission during the Fa-rectification period and acknowledge the fact that there are many Dafa activities that need to be accomplished, it fills many fellow practitioners with concerns about the severe lack of time and volunteers, a sentiment that I often share. But as I started to recall how I used to spent each day, I realized that the real problem is more so in my failing to organize my time efficiently and that I wasted a lot of time daily. For example, I have a tendency to procrastinate. There were a lot of tasks that I could have completed quickly if I would have stayed focused, but it took me a long time to finish them because of my tendency to procrastinate. For example, I often digress from the subject when I exchange cultivation experiences with fellow practitioners and talk about a lot of useless things. Or I waste a lot of time surfing the internet. I can actually depend on the article titles at some web sites to know their contents, but I often waste time reading through many of these articles. Now that I think of it, I can actually save a lot more time if I stop wasting my time like this. Because I waste a lot of time daily, I don't have enough time to do what I can and should do. Besides, while I have been wasting my time, many fellow practitioners might be stressed out and overwrought because of the heavy workload and the lack of help.
There is a limited amount of time that is given to us each day. Time is transient like the flowing water, so if we fail to treasure and make the best of this time, it is gone for good. If we try to prioritize each task and arrange our time accordingly, we might be able to "extend" the time we have. For example, I want to practice the Falun Gong exercises each day if I have time, so I will join the outdoor group practice on my available days. When I do that, there are two positive effects from one action: practicing the Falun Gong exercises and promoting Falun Gong with my demonstration of the exercises. Take another example. I want to study the Fa every day, so I try to do it at dawn when I can study the Fa in a quiet setting with minimal interference. Alternatively, I also listen to Teacher's Fa lectures or recite the Fa on my way to work. Studying the Fa in the morning has another advantage. For the rest of the day, I don't have to worry about finding time to study the Fa. It does require some wisdom and techniques to arrange our time well, but I am confident that each of us can manage our time well if we put our hearts into it.
And we shouldn't limit ourselves to only certain Fa-rectification projects. Every project is a small part of the Fa-rectification work. Instead of sitting there and waiting for coordinators to assign us with Dafa work or ask us to join some other Fa-rectification projects, perhaps we should take the initiative to ask if fellow practitioners need any help, and actively share their workload. There are many Dafa projects with heavy workloads that could actually use more help. We shouldn't be attached to the "work ownership" notion characterized as "this is my project and that is your project." We should do our best to accommodate and fulfill the needs of all projects. One may call it "utilizing our potential," but I think it's more of a manifestation of a cultivator's realm.
Many diligent practitioners have undertaken a heavy load of Dafa work, and their daily life thus becomes very demanding. Meanwhile, if you look around you, you might see some other practitioners in your area who have not utilized their full potentials. You might consider talking to them sincerely and patiently [to persuade them to assume more Dafa work.] If they don't want to take more work after the first communication, talk to them again and give them more chances to think it over. Maybe your compassion will help dissolve those elements that obstruct them from being more diligent in their cultivation practice through Fa-rectification work. Isn't this another way to utilize your own potential? You will become a more diligent practitioner. You may awaken less diligent fellow practitioners and help them utilize their abilities granted by Master for Fa-rectification work.
People often say that it takes time, environment, aspiration and right opportunities, etc. to develop one's potential. As for Dafa practitioners [in the Fa-rectification period,] as long as we improve our xinxing (mind nature), I believe that we should be able to attain a higher level of wisdom and great abilities. Even if it may appear that we have limited abilities at present, Teacher will help us attain the level of abilities required to complete Dafa work as long as we maintain a pure heart. We have done a lot of things beyond our imagination to assist the Fa-rectification, and haven't we created many miraculous progresses with our righteous thoughts?
Do not leave any of the abilities granted by Master unused, otherwise they will become nothing but decorations when the massive force of the Fa-rectification arrives in the human realm. And it will be a permanent regret as we would not have been diligent during our cultivation path. We can, and we should, utilize our full potentials for Fa-rectification.
Translated from: http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2004/1/30/25618.html
